Can with self-closing lid.



L. SGHOTT.

CAN WITH SELF CLOSING LID.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1912.

Patented Mar. 24, 191 1 TED %TATE% FATENT @FFIfiE LOUIS SGHOTT, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO CINCINNATI GALVANIZING COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

can WITH SELF-CLOSING LID.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 24, rate.

To all whom it may concern:

zen of the United States, and a resident of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cans with Self-Closing Lids; and I do declare the following to be a clear, full, and exact description of the invention, attention being called to the drawing, which accompanies this application and forms a part thereof.

This invention relates to improvements in cans provided with lids adapted to close automatically to prevent the cans from being carelessly left uncovered which, especially in cases of refuse cans, is quite objectionable.

The invention consists of the construction of the means'whereby the lid of such a can is connected to its complementary body in a manner to obtain the desired results.

In the following specification and particularly pointed out in the claims at the end thereof, will be found a full description of my invention, together with its operation, parts and construction, which latter is also illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which can-body and the other to the lid.

Figure 1, is a side-elevation of my improved can with its lid in closing position. Fig. 2, is a similar view and shows the can open. Fig. 3, is a top-view and shows the lid, while being moved into opening position. Fig. 4, shows enlarged and in elevation one of the members used for connecting the lid in position. Fig. 5, in a top-view shows the upper end of this member, shown in the preceding figure, adjacent parts being shown in section, indicated by line 5-5, in Fig. 2.

In the drawing, A indicates the body of the can, its side being corrugated and provided with a head a at its upper edge which forms a seat for the lid B. This latter is in form of a cap, the side I; of which fits over the upper edge of the can and may seat with its lower edge upon bead a. A handle 7 is provided for manipulation of this lid to which it is connected by means of a base 8, both forming by preference anintegral casting. This lid is secured to the can-body by a hinge consisting of two complementary members of which one is attached to the T 1e member connected to the lid is in form of a cylindrical stem 9, and is attached to the lid by means of a plug 10, which forms a Be 1t known that I, LOUIS Sonora, a c1t1- part of the handle-base, extended for such purpose beyond the lid and from the underside of which extension this plug projects. This plug is socketed into the correspondlngly recessed end of the stem where it is rigidly secured as by a pin for instance shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. By making stem 9 of tubing, this recess in its end is readily obtained, likewise reduction in weight of this member, without sacrificing strength. Stem 9 is fitted to a bracket C, in a manner to permit of its axial rotation as well as of a linear movement in axial direction with reference to said bracket.

The bracket is secured to the outside of the can-body in a position as best shown in Fig. 2, and so as to be slightly inclined toward the upper edge of said body. Its attachment is by flanged braces 11 and 12, at the ends of this bracket and formed accordingly, the upper ones being shorter than those at the lower end to obtain this in clination. The bracket consists of two connected parts 13 and 1 1, the upper one semitubular and the lower one preferably so, to reduce weight, both being endwise joined by a. short tubular part 15. These three parts are axially concentric, the semi-tubular parts extending respectively upwardly and downwardly from the tubular part, they being so positioned with reference to this part and with reference to each other as to be on opposite sides of their common axis. They are thereby rendered complementary in a manner that with reference to stem 9, they form a continuous bearing for the same in which it may rotate as well as move in the direction of its axis. There is also a tubular part 16 at the upper end of the bracket and from the lower edge of this part, there extends a cam 17, while another cam 18 extends from the upper edge of part 15, both these cams being of a shape as best shown in Fig. 4, and both closely fitted circumferentially against stem The lower part 14:, has a longitudinal slot 19, which is continued in the tubular part 15, in form of a groove, or rather in form of two communieating branch-grooves as shown at 20 in Fig. 4f, which grooves open upwardly into the open space above this part 15, and in front of part 13. The inner diameter of the upper tubular member 16 is enlarged to an extent equal to the thickness of the wall of the bracket parts 13 and 14. This enlargement starts where the edges of cam 17 and of semi-tubular part 18 are closest to each other at the lower edge of tubular part 16 and from which point this enlargement broadens until it is practically circumferentially continuous at the upper edge of part 16. In other words the cam-shaped edges of cams 17 and 18 are continued respectively upwardly and downwardly through the tubular parts adjacent each cam.

21 is a pin on stem 9 which, when the lid is in the position shown in Fig. 1, occupies groove 19 in the lower part of the bracket. If now the lid is lifted by use of handle 7, it is compelled to rise straight as long as pin 21 on stem 9 moves in groove 19. This movement is of an extentsufficient to clear the lid from the upper edge of the can. The lifting movement being continued, pin 21 moves presently into one of grooves 20, thereby causing the lid to swing over the can-body as shown in Fig. 3, thus opening the can for access. By a slight pressure of the hand, the pin may be caused to enter either one or theother of these two grooves, so as to swing the lid to a particular side as desired. However, if this opportunity for choice is missed, it is only necessary to raise the lid a little higher and suflicient to bring pin 21 into the open space above cam 18, after which pin 21 becomes free from the confinement of the grooves permitting the lid to be readily swung to either side to suit circumstances or convenience. By raising it still higher and until pin 21 is clear above the bracket, the lid may be swung around still farther and in either direction as shown in Fig. 2.

The closing of the can requires nothing except a release of the handle after which, impelled by its weight, the lid will readily find its seat due to the co-action of pin 21 and grooves 20, which guide the stem on the lid and cause the same to assume first a position in which it is poised straight above the can and from which position it may drop bodily upon its seat as soon as pin 21 enters groove 19.

The inclined position, shown for instance in Fig. 2, which the lid is forced to assume by reason of the inclined support of its stem 9, accelerates this closing movement of the lid and serves to overcome more readily any possible resistance due to friction or other causes. If desirable, as for instance when the can is to be emptied, the lid may be cletached by the entire withdrawal of stem 9 from bracket C, through the upper end of the same. The subsequent replacement of the stem is facilitated by the interior. circumferential enlargement at the upper edge of'part 16 of the bracket which readily permits pin 21 to enter with stem 9, this formation, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, being so as to properly guide this pin in its passage downwardly and to control thereby, in conjunction with grooves 20 and slot 19, the movement of stem 9, whereby finally the seating of the lid is effected.

22 are the handles of the can, to be used when changing its position or for manipulating it for emptying. There are two of them diametrically apart and bracket C is so located as to be close to one .of them,'thus being out of the way when the can, for dumping its contents, is sidewise leanec upon the edge of a wagon-bed.

Having described my invention, I claim as new:

1. In a can of the kind described, the combination of a body, a lid for the same, a

bracket on the former secured thereto in an inclined position and a stem on the lid fitted to the bracket so as to be rotatable therein and axially movable with respect thereto.

2. In a can of the kind described, the combination of a body, a bracket secured to the same and comprising two semi-tubular parts and a short tubular part between them, all these parts being axially concentric, the semi-tubular parts extending in opposite directions from the tubular part between them, they being so positioned with reference to this part and with reference to each other as to be on opposite sides of their common axis, the lower semi-tubular part having a longitudinal slot, a lid for the can, a stem secured to the side of the lid and movably fitted into the bracket and .a pin on this stem adapted to occupy the slot mentioned and preventing rotary movement of the stem until withdrawn from said slot in the lower semi-tubular part in the bracket and moved into the upper part thereof.

In a can of the kind described, the combination of a body, a lid for the same, a stem on the lid provided with a pin and arranged to project down over the body, a, bracket on this latter which receives the stem and is provided with a slot in its lower part adapted to be occupied by the pin on said stern' when the lid is seated and with an open space above this slot which permits rotation of the stem'and sidewise movement of the lid with reference tothe can after the lid has been raised to cause the pin mentioned to move into said open space and cams intermediate this openspace andthe slot below whereby the pin is directed to move into said slot to cause the lid to become re-seated. In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS SCHOTT. Witnesses C. SPE'NGEL, E. Ln BEAU.

Gupta: 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of I'atents. Washington, D. G. 

